Your personal experience with Muslims?

Question

How has your personal experience been when interacting with Muslims? Do they generally come across as fundamentalists or moderate, normal people?
Thank you.

Answer 1

nice hood.

I lived in Saudi Arabia (one of the strictest Muslim countries) around many Muslims for 12 years.
Personally I find they are very friendly, open and honorable.
I've NEVER met a Muslim I didn't like. Even living here in the US.

I DO notice they can usually be as intolerable toward other religions just as Christians are.
BUT I think the Christians have actually killed more people and complete cultures in the name of God than the Muslims ever have.

Muslims seem to fight more with themselves than others (usually over territory)
its when the US forces their traditions and culture and judgments onto them when they tend to get upset with us.
can you blame them?


I find the reported treatment of women puzzling. Since I've seen it in action. They treat their women with great respect and tend to almost hide them to make sure no one (horny young men) can disrespect them.

it seems they try to keep them out of danger more than anything else.

They don't appreciate a woman that could be considered a "fluzzy" seems they expect more honor than that, and will condemn those that don't express honor.

(think about how many American men beat up on their wives/girlfriends here, then you can bring up the mistreatment of women in Muslim marriages)

one should also consider the consiquence of the crusades.
Understanding how many men where killed in battle sheds light on why 1 man was able to take so many wives. ( the population was left with a staggering ratio of like 8 women to 1 man)
At that time even Christians considered women second rate citizens. The Muslim men knew that these women couldn't have a "true" job, and stepped up to the plate, married, and provided for MANY wives at one time. I find that quite Valiant and Generous, plus it gave them a fighting chance to repopulate the middle east.



As-Salamu Alaykum
a VERY VERY common greeting
(it means Peace be upon you)
I think that says alot.

and Shukran to all for your support and taking the time to listen.

Answer 2

Because of past bad experiences, many Muslims are very careful when someone from outside their faith or community start to talk to them.
Once they see acceptance and friendliness, they start to treat the non-Muslims in their embrasing way.

My view is Muslims like to be very personal, close expressive people.
Many Muslim communities will want to show affection to each other ... much more than the average westerner who stands back with a flick of a wave and a "Howdy / G'day".
Even during phone calls. I was amazed to see how expressive Travel Agents in Jordon were while speaking on the phone. They prefered to use ear fittings to have their hand movements going ... even though it was not seen by the person they were speaking to.

I have only been invited into 7 homes of Muslims, but always find them warm and willing to show a lot of heart.

Answer 3

Moderate but the only Muslims I have experience with are a few of my husband's friends wives. Saudi women are very nice and very loyal to their husbands and children.

Answer 4

Far, far better than my experiences with so-called "Christians". Several months ago a customer from a nearby Baptist church came into my workplace and invited me to attend. As an atheist, I politely declined and thanked her. She actually left in a huff, telling me that I was "lost" if I couldn't accept Jesus Christ. (Gypsy rolls her eyes...)
As a resident of SE Michigan, I am acquainted with many Muslims, not ONE of whom has ever attempted to "recruit" me. The Muslims here are all pillars of their respective communities, a great many of them physicians (most of my own doctors are Muslim) and professionals of other natures.
I have nothing but the utmost respect and good feelings towards them.

Answer 5

i think mercurys answer is extremely good

he should get best answer

i'm a muslim, and i know no other muslims who WANT to blow up anyone else, they're normal

its the media who are giving the fundamentalist view of muslims, i have many friends who are not muslim, i do not pressurize them to convert or want them to die because they are not muslim. i respect all religions but i do not tolerate murder and violence etc etc

just thought i should say that

=)

have a great day everyone!!

*peace*

Answer 6

As a Muslim, most of the teens are very moderate (even at the expense of good Islamic morals). The older ones are peace loving, but firm in their beliefs (ex: some say u cant listen to music).

There are a portion of them that r strict; and while they seem happy and serene in their mosque I find their rulings ridiculous and unimportant (ex: women can't pray with nail polish because there might be dirty stuff underneath the nail polish that doesn't get washed when doing ablution.) Dont ask!

So over-all I trust them and they r good ppl with common goals in life (good job, nice house, friends etc). I have NEVER met any Muslim remotely terorist-like.

Answer 7

DaMan, there is no correct and incorrect answer to share about experience, but yes his experiences are hilarious

friend,
this questioner usually doesn't pick a best answer, so I might back to this question next 4 days to vote Mercury's answer, hope you do so. I really appreciate his way to respect others.

Answer 8

There are fundaMENTALists in all religions. Not all Muslims are terists, many are down to earth and normal. Look in your city's upcoming events to see when the next Open House will be held at the local Mosque. Go in with an open mind.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

I joined the Muslim Club at my university. All the kids there we're really nice to me. At the meetings they talked mostly about spiritual issues and most of these issues and their answers were the same things dealt with in my high school Bible classes. In fact these Muslims kids reminded me of the Christian kids I went to school with.

Also, I like their hand shake. It is really gentle, nothing lilke the "firm" handshake that American males like to give.

Answer 10

My boss at a gas station who sexually harassed the *&*(* out of me. Actually there were two of them. I don't think Fundamentalist anybody goes around fat and hairy with their shirts half unbuttoned with a gold chain tangled in their grey sweaty hair though. The head jerk was like a fat old John Travolta from Saturday night fever. He kept trying to get me to smoke weed in the bathroom with him. My boss! Ugh. So I guess you could call them "normal?" This has been my only experience with Muslims. It was not a good one, but I dont judge all Muslims by this standard. But i did stay long enough to learn how to say "A salam alakum sharmute."

Answer 11

neither. i have met few muslims though, so as they say your mileage may vary. they live with a lot of restrictions and rituals, more than i would have patience for i think. to my way of thinking they have some strange ideas, but they seem generally open to discussing them. more so than some christians i have met actually.